Iquitos is one of the largest cities inaccessible by land. If you want to get there, you will have to go by plane or boat. It is known as the capital of the Amazon in Peru or “La Isla Bonita” (The Beautiful Island). Rivers known as Nanay, Itaya, and Amazonas surround this picturesque city.
Within the imposing city, you will find many activities to keep you busy. From observing wildlife, relaxing in an eco-lodge, enjoying the nightlife, and much more. Without mentioning cozy houses and their unique architecture, the legacy of the Rubber era. But, undoubtedly, the heritage of the Amazonian Indigenous reflected in its museums will surprise you.
That is why, together with Machu Travel Peru, we have decided to guide you. We’ll indicate to you the best things to do in Iquitos. So on your next vacation, you don’t miss out on the best activities in the city.
Our list of the best things to do in Iquitos
- Visit the Casa de Fierro (Iron house)
- Explore the Monkey Island
- Discover the Belen floating neighborhood
- Meet Indigenous tribes
- Participate in the Ayahuasca traditional ceremony
- Embark on a luxury cruise
- Enjoy a Butterfly farm
- Swimming with Pink Dolphins
- Visit a Manatees in the Amazon Rescue Center
- Canopy walkways
- Rest in a cozy lodge
Visit the casa de fierro (Iron house)
Believe it or not. The famous Gustave Eiffel (The same as the Eiffel Tower) was the architect of this lovely house. Gustave encharged its construction in Hamburgo at the end of the 19th century.
Afterward, the Paris International Exposition shows it. There, a rubber baron saw it, bought it, and ordered its transfer to Iquitos, Peru. This fact reflects the power of the Iquitos rubber barons during the Rubber boom (1880 – 1915). They were European people and they brought the fashion of dress and construction from Europe to Iquitos.
Just imagine the iron plates that the Peruvians had to disembark and carry through the inhospitable jungle to Iquitos! The house is at the corner of the Iquitos main square (Plaza de Armas). It has a pharmacy on the first floor and a restaurant on the second floor.
Explore the monkey island
One of the most fun things to do in Peru is to go to Monkey Island. It is 30 km northeast of Iquitos, and you can get there by navigating through the Amazon River. In 1997, the Peruvian government donated 450 hectares (practically the whole island) to an organization. This charge of rescue, rehabilitation, and release of monkeys victims of illegal trafficking.
Today, you can interact and have fun with representatives of 8 species of monkeys and sloths. This is before they are ready to be released into the wild. The organization has already released more than 300 monkeys and you can leave a small donation for their upkeep.
Discover the belen floating neighborhood
South of Iquitos city, you can find one of the most remarkable settlements in the region: the Amazon Venice. We refer to Belen. This is a floating village that has remained intact despite rising river levels and flooding. It is extended around 20 blocks of family homes and public buildings like schools and even commercial stores.
Different tours to the Peruvian Amazon take travelers through this neighborhood by boat. One of the main attractions is the Belen market, where the locals sell all kinds of “madness”. We can mention turtle heads, shells, alligator heads, lizards, monkey meat, and even freshly killed snakes.
Moreover, the market has a section called “Pasaje Paquito”. There, you’ll find everything from local potions to bottled Ayahuasca. The locals claim these to cure anything from baldness to a broken heart. So, be careful!
Meet indigenous tribes
One of the best things to do in Iquitos is to learn about the local and ancestral culture of this wonderful place. For this, you can venture and meet the indigenous groups that live in the surroundings. Two main indigenous tribes live in the area: the Bora Bora tribe and the Yagua tribe.
A. The Bora Bora tribe
It has approximately 2,000 integrants. They have their language: the Bora. Its habitat extends from Putumayo to Napi Rio. Rubber production in the 20th century wreaked havoc on its population, decreasing its inhabitants by thousands.
They also have an animistic view of the world.
B. Yagua tribe
The Yagua tribe is said to be one of the oldest in the entire Amazon, with around 4000 to 6000 integrants. They also speak their own language. They suffered losses since the Spanish invasion, the diseases they brought as Sarampion, and the very production of rubber. Its main activities are agriculture, the haunter, and the fish.
The Yagua is currently the friendliest with visitors. They welcome tourists into their communities to show off their culture, beautiful traditional dances, songs, and more. If you are planning a trip to Peru, you cannot miss these beautiful communities.
Participate in the ayahuasca traditional ceremony
While you are in Iquitos, you can experience one of the oldest and most traditional ceremonies in Peru. Ayahuasca is a traditional and ancestral indigenous medicine that has become very popular in recent years. This strong preparation comes from a mix of different plants. Together, these create a powerful psychoactive compound.
The preparation sends visitors on a very deep psychedelic journey to the darkest corners of human consciousness. Some claim that they have restorative effects for those with very strong trauma or addictions. A Shaman, the oldest person in the tribe, leads the ceremony.
This elder drinks Ayahuasca and makes the participants drink too. He sings Icaros, which are ancient jungle songs, to attract the jungle spirits. Simply Amazing!
Note: We recommend doing this activity through a travel agency, not on your own. You will need to fast and prepare physically.
Embark on a luxury cruise
Those seeking a more luxurious experience may choose to tour the Amazon River on beautiful cruises. These authentic floating suites of will assure you the maximun comfort as if you were in a 5-star hotel. These cruises navigate the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve.
First-hand attention with 5-fork restaurants, large suites with private bathrooms, cozy living rooms, zone bar, and activities included. Among them, we can mention night walking through river banks, bird watching, boat rides, fishing, swimming, diving, paddling, and much more!
On the route of the cruise, the jungle predators to see on the Amazon are the Otorongo, the Caiman, the Harple eagle, and many more.
Enjoy a butterfly farm
If you are a fan of wildlife or exotic insects, Iquitos is the ideal place for you. Not far from the city, you can enjoy one of the best butterfly farms on the continent: Pilpintuwasi. This butterfly farm will blow your mind. Inside this refuge, you can find innumerable species of all colors.
Like Pilpintuwasi, there are many protected areas in Peru.
The experience is accompanied by an informative guide that explains in detail the life cycles and reproduction habits of each butterfly. But butterflies are not the only animals to see. You can also find exotic animals like jaguars, manatees, alligators, and monkeys since this place is a refuge for rescued animals before they are healed and reincorporated into their natural habitat.
The butterfly farm charges a ticket entrance fee, and it’s a financial benefit for this rescue center.
Swimming with Pink Dolphins
This unique type of Dolphin can be found in the waters of the Amazon River. Today, the researchers know little about their feed, mating times, or why they have this particular color. Its pink color comes from scar tissue, a product of wounds caused by confrontations between young people.
However, believe it or not, the Amazon Pink River Dolphin can be very friendly with everyone who wants to play with him. You only have to make a splash and wait for your Pink friends to start the party!
Visit a manatees in the amazon rescue center
Have you heard about the manatee before? No? They are like sea cows. The manatee is the largest marine mammal in South America. They live in the Amazon River throughout the Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, and Venezuela basin.
Seeing them is amazing. These marine mammals feed on native plant species, are docile, and their population is decreasing year in and year out. It’s because of their meat and fat.
Therefore, Iquitos hosts the Amazon Rescue Center. It’s an organization made up of international marine research centers and some local researchers. They rescue and breed these Amazon Rainforest Animals in captivity, then set them free (Once they are fully recovered).
The ticket entrance costs 20 Soles per person, and the center is at km 4.5 on the route between Iquitos and Nauta town. During the visit, you will be able to feed and interact!
Walk in a canopy walkways
Iquitos is not only famous for the manatees, Pink Dolphins, or native tribes. The Peruvian jungle city is famous for Canopy walkways that connect the highest treetops in the region. The canopy walkways are 35 meters high and 500 meters long. They offer a great chance for bird watching in the country, which has the third most bird species in the world.
These suspension bridges are made of reinforced steel cables supported by giant trees. Recent research has shown that from 35 meters up, the birds and mammals you can observe are totally different from what you are used to at ground level.
Besides, the visitors will have great views of landscapes and sunshine in the afternoon. We can mention the canopy experiences of Ceiba Tops and Tahuayo Lodge.
Rest in a cozy lodge
Everyone knows that the city of Iquitos is beautiful. Anyway, one needs to get out of the city and go to the outskirts. These places away from Iquitos are the closest thing to paradise and tour operator lodges.
A tour of the Peruvian jungle is not complete without exploring its rich ecosystem. And fortunately, you will find many eco-lodges scattered throughout the region. Choosing one may be challenging for you.
There are exclusive and luxurious options that promise to give you all the comforts of a 5-star hotel. And you also have other much cheaper options.
Whatever your choice, you will have some fantastic views and will be surrounded by a unique atmosphere in the world.
“DON’T LET FEAR GET IN THE WAY OF THE LIFE YOU ARE MEANT TO LIVE”
Inside the Amazon jungle, you will find many things to enjoy, from totally free activities to more exclusive ones. Enjoy a destination like no other and everything it has to offer. Machu Travel Peru hopes to have been of help in planning your next vacation.
Remember that these activities are just a few popular examples of what you can do in Iquitos. But they are not all the things to do in Iquitos; there is much more to learn about the beautiful jungle city.
If you want to learn more about this great destination, feel free to ask our team of experts.
